26-Year-Old Man Killed In Wethersfield House Fire

Girlfriend Survives By Jumping Out Window

April 16, 2013|By CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN | Special to The Courant, The Hartford Courant

WETHERSFIELD — — A 26-year-old man was killed in an early morning fire Monday at a Glenwood Drive home, according to a relative.

Christopher Abreu, whose father, Gabriel Abreu, owns the house at 93 Glenwood Drive, died in the blaze, his aunt, Olivia Caires, said. Abreu was in the house with his girlfriend, who jumped out of a window and survived, she said.

The other person in the house was Sandra Smith, 24, of Newington, who escaped through a second-story window. She was taken to Hartford Hospital, he said. Hospital spokeswoman Rebecca Stewert said Monday afternoon that Smith is in fair condition.

Christopher Abreu died of smoke inhalation and carbon dixoide poisoning, according to the fire department.

Caires and other relatives were in shock over Christopher Abreu's death Monday as they stood in the driveway of the house next door, which is owned by a relative.

"The whole family is devastated," she said. "We're just shocked. He was a great kid. We'll miss him terribly."

Christopher Abreu's father was out of town, as was his sister, Jessica, Caires said. Both are returning as soon as possible, she said.

The family's loss comes after Christopher Abreu's mother, Maria, died of cancer late last year, making his death even more devastating, Caires said.

"It's a shock," said the Rev. Antonio Tschingui, a family friend and priest who was comforting family members Monday morning. "They're still mourning."

The fire was reported at 1:30 a.m., and firefighters had it under control by 2:20 a.m., according to the fire department.

Fran Byron, who lives across the street, said the fire woke her up.

"I opened the blinds and saw flames shooting from the garage," she said. "The heat was really intense. It was popping, and I thought something was going to explode."

Byron called 911 and ran downstairs. By the time she got outside, the fire had engulfed the garage and was spreading to the rest of the house.

A woman appeared, screaming that someone was inside, Bryon said. Her husband, Bob Byron, ran to her, but the fire was too intense to try tp go inside, she said.

Firefighters arrived soon after, she said.

"It's a shame," she said.

Charred two-by-fours were all that remained of the garage Monday morning. The home's interior was burnt out. Melted siding clung to outside walls, and all the windows were shattered.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Fire Marshal Anthony Dignoti said. A state fire marshal truck was parked in front of the home Monday morning, and investigators were seen combing through the wreckage and taking measurements.

Dignoti said that investigators are looking at the possibility that a problem with the gas caused the fire, but have made no final determination. A gas leak was feeding the fire when firefighters arrived, he said. In addition, firefighters had to deal with fallen live electrical wires, he said.

"Everything that could possibly go wrong here did," Dignoti said. "The fire spread very quickly. It was tragic."

Gabriel Abreu and his late wife are both originally from Madeira, an island in the Atlantic Ocean that is part of Portugal.